I relate it to a college football coach who has signed an exorbitant long-term contract with a guaranteed buyout clause and "freebies" (such as a car, golf memberships, speaking fees, free housing allowances, and the list goes on). I live in University of Arkansas backyard, and now Bret Bielema is suing for 7.025 million trying to get his guaranteed money even though he was fired years ago. Odds are, he'll get it. He didn't win, plain and simple and was fired after the boosters (Institutional investors in AMRN) decided it was time for change. AMRN has done the same thing with free stock options. Like football, if you don't have a winning record or bowl games, you are on the proverbial "hot seat" with the "boosters" and if not corrected you are gone. Arkansas football has been firing coaches left and right, and the boosters (Large funds hold the most voting power) have been the one's guaranteeing these exorbitant salaries and buyouts and perks. Petrino got fired for wrecking his motorcycle with his volleyball mistress on the back of his bike, haha! They still tried to cover it up, but the word got out and the boosters were forced to act. Once these boosters decide it's time for change, then there is no turning back, change will occur, and the new coach (CEO) comes in with an almost identical "pay" structure and free perks to retain and reward. Right now, AMRN is having a terrible 2019-2020 off-season following their conference championship (Red-It) The coach (JT) is starting to hear fans (retail) discontent. The boosters (BOD) hear all the grumbling and at some point will have to act if the fans (retail/other investors/market) start to show their displeasure with empty seats at games (share price decline). Maybe not a perfect analogy, but Arkansas is in the SEC and has to play the likes of Alabama, LSU, Auburn, etc. every year. AMRN has been playing against the USPTO, FDA, Insurance companies, "dark forces" of the fish oil industry, Generic companies, and now the Court system. A hell of a gauntlet for sure. After facing such opponents you are "beat up" for sure. Not sure when the BOD and Large Institutional funds tire of JT's performance, but even if you win the division (Red-It success) one year, you better get even better the next year, because you can't rest on your laurels for very long. Everyone will be gunning for you the next year. It feels as though AMRN has received the "death penalty" for recruiting violations and are in jeopardy of a "crisis" mode with the advent of losing their patent case and now are relying on an appeal win to overturn or reduce the penalties going forward. These boosters (Hedge funds/Baker Bros/Goldman Sachs types) are wanting a successful product on the field and will be the one's to dictate it the only way they can by changing leadership. They all want to retain their suites "high in the sky" away from the average fan (retail) where they can enjoy their sushi and wet bars and all the amenities that come with their booster contributions (profits). These are the people that will decide when change occurs, certainly not the average fan forced to sit in the rain and cold and elements down in the bleacher seats. Only thing a guy can do is sneak in a pint or two into the stadium and continue to watch and cheer on the team as a loyal fan (investor). At some point those pints don't even seem to help any longer and the waiting can become unbearable.
Just the ramblings of a college football fan who despite a losing season after losing season continues to chant "wait till next year". Next year always brings more promise with a new head coach. As I've learned over the last decade or so with Arkansas football is a new coach does not always bring success, especially in the SEC. Now there is talk of "maybe we should go to a different conference" (EU), but the monies being received from being in the SEC (US market) is just too much to give up.
I don't expect JT to lose his job, unless the patent appeal case is lost. All JMO. Have a great day all, and yes I am ready for football, and yes just like every year I have high hopes and optimism. Just like a lot of us have in AMRN. It just seems AMRN has been nothing but high hopes and optimism for a long time now.
Signing off from my bleacher seat in the end zone with a pillar in front of me behind the band that stands up almost the entire game it seems. Lol!
